Nvidia’s much-anticipated ray tracing mod framework, RTX Remix, is set to enter open beta on January 22, with the company hoping to see a surge of fan remasters for classic PC games. The toolset, which will be available publicly in a few weeks, is already being eagerly anticipated by modders who have been working with pieces of it for months.
The beta will give all modders free access to a toolchain that allows them to add path tracing and other modern visual effects to some DirectX 8 and DirectX 9 games. Those interested in the beta can sign up on Nvidia’s website to receive notifications about its release. The toolkit will include tools to input, convert, and modify game assets, as well as an updated version of the runtime that was released on GitHub last year.
RTX Remix will enable modders to enhance DX8 and DX9 titles by adding features such as path tracing, higher-quality art assets, physically-based materials required for ray tracing, AI-enhanced textures, DLSS, and more. The modding suite was showcased with an RTX enhanced version of Portal in 2022, and since then, users have been experimenting with the early RTX Remix files on classic games like SWAT 4, Max Payne, and Need for Speed Underground 2.
One of the most exciting projects involving RTX Remix is the extensive rework of Half-Life 2 by over 50 modders. Nvidia recently released new clips demonstrating the toolkit’s impact on the game’s famous Ravenholm chapter, showcasing the upgraded lighting, models, textures, and other elements.
To facilitate access to more information, Nvidia is collaborating with ModDB, dedicating a section of its website to RTX Remix mods. Users will be able to collaborate on a list of eligible games, share configurations, and upload mods with a 50GB size limit. Nvidia also maintains a Discord server for showcasing projects.
Recent mods have showcased the profound effect path tracing can have on classic PC games, and it’s expected that the technology will soon be introduced to DirectX 10, 11, and 12 games as well. Overall, the upcoming release of RTX Remix promises to bring new life to beloved PC classics and offers an exciting opportunity for modders to showcase their creativity.
